Lake County Waste

April 05, 1991|By Patty Holland.

GRAYSLAKE — Your editorial supporting Waste Management`s plan to build a composting center near Mundelein states that petitions in opposition were signed by more than 1,100 residents-most of whom do not live near the site. That is erroneous. All 1,100 signatures were in fact from people either residing or working in the vicinity.

You stated ``They conjured up every potential horror imaginable: odor, toxic runoff, groundwater contamination, lowered property values, traffic and flies.`` Obviously, you did not spend any time in the vicinity last summer to experience firsthand some of the ``horrors.``

No effort was made to control the odors. Attempts to control flies failed. Residents and workers in the area were forced to endure the stench of decaying grass at various times of the day and night, weekdays as well as weekends.

Lake County`s Zoning Board of Appeals did recommend the conditional-use permit for the center. It added 23 conditions (nothing to do with odor and fly control). On April 9 the plan goes to the Lake County Board for final approval or denial. When all is finished, will the 23 conditions still remain to protect the public, and will they be enforced by the county? Time will tell.

You stated, ``The need is critical (for compost centers) because a new Illinois law designed to sharply reduce the trash headed for its swindling landfills forbids dumping yard waste in them.`` The need is not critical; a change in priorities is critical, as well as a change in our throw-away lifestyle. Is it really necessary to remove grass clippings from our lawns?

After all, what is really more important, a picture perfect lawn, or breathable air and uncontaminated water?